An Elongated Slate Long Neck Birdstone From Monroe County, Michigan, From the Collection of Jan Sorgenfrei, Ohio

made from an attractive green-banded slate which flows with the contours of the body; intact red ocher deposits are within the perforations; grinding marks visible on the underside of the neck and beak.

Found in the 1970s or 1980s at a site known as Rieger No. 1, named for its discoverer. This site, which also contained two copper gorgets, was studied and published on, by David M. Stothers and Timothy J. Abel in Archaeology of Eastern North America (1993).

Cowan's strives to sell only authentic artifacts. We view the sheer number of fraudulent artifacts in the marketplace a threat to the collecting hobby, and frankly, place little stock in "Certificates of Authenticity" and prefer to offer old, well-documented artifacts.

We recognize that there may be disagreement between various parties regarding the authenticity of an artifact. Before placing a bid, we invite you, or a surrogate to physically examine any artifact of interest. No artifact deemed spurious by a bidder or his surrogates may be returned after the fall of the auctioneer's hammer.

As you read the catalog and examine the photographs in the catalog, please be aware that some of the artifacts in the collection have been expertly restored. While we recognize that restoration might affect the overall value of an artifact, we believe that these beautifully conserved artifacts still have high value to collectors. Wherever possible, we have noted restoration in the catalog description.

Before the sale, we welcome your questions regarding any of the lots in the catalog and will be happy to provide more photographs or descriptions.

Because of the care we have taken with these descriptions, no restored artifact may be returned after the fall of the auctioneer's hammer."

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